“True. They could. And they will if it comes down to it.”
“Do you think Michael’s considered that?” she asked. “He’s the one who made the proposition in the first place.”
Obsidian smiled. “I honestly don’t know what goes through that male’s mind. But yes, I’d like to think he has our best interest at heart.”
One would hope, but like Obsidian, Acadia didn’t know what spurred Michael’s decisions. She had never completely understood him.
“Kaj has a huge undertaking ahead of him,” Obsidian continued. “And he’s going to need you at his side. He can’t go this alone.”
“He’s not alone.”
“He feels as though he is.”
Acadia hadn’t considered that. With so many people around, she had just assumed he had more help than was necessary. Between the Zenith and thefiestreigh, there were a number of males willing to stand at his back, to protect him should it come to that. But it helped to explain what he’d told her the other morning when he’d come to her room. He had openly admitted to needing her at his side.
“Perhaps now isn’t the time to worry about myself,” she said softly.
“Then when is?” Obsidian stood tall. “Acadia, you’ve fulfilled your duty to me and my brothers, to thefiestreigh. Do we still need you? Absolutely. And not for your blood. We need you because you’re a vital part of this family. Don’t ever forget that. If you’re asking me to release you, then I do. Consider yourself free to go to the male you love, to stand at his side, to help him when he needs you most. It may seem like things are quiet right now because they are. We have no idea what’s going on, where the demons have disappeared to, but I’m not going to believe they’ve vacated forever. We’ve seen this before. They will be back. And when they return, we will be ready for them. All of us. No matter our role.”
“Thank you, Obsidian.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I’m forever grateful for what you’ve done for all of us. You might consider your duty punishment, but I see it as a blessing.”
Acadia would’ve hugged him if it weren’t for the fact her touch would cause him tremendous pain. Instead, she curtsied low, showing her gratitude and her respect for the male she’d come to see as family.
“Now, go to your male,” he said with a chuckle. “Let him claim you the way he needs so he can get his head back in the game. We need him as much as we need you.”
Feeling lighter than she had in … well, possibly ever, Acadia spun around and hurried out of the room.
No sooner had she stepped into the hall than she heard the chaos.
“Someone help! Get Apollo!”
It was Bijou.
Obsidian’s heavy footfalls sounded behind her. “You get Apollo,” he instructed. “I’ll go up there.”
“Of course.” On bare feet, Acadia took off toward the infirmary, down the stairs, past the bar, beyond the war room.
She slammed through the doors that sealed off the medical facility.
“Apollo!”
The male came sauntering out from somewhere, his dark brows lowered. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Bijou. She’s calling for you. From the second floor.”
The male nodded, then disappeared.
Acadia followed suit, vanishing herself and reforming on the second floor. The door to Oliver’s bedroom was open, Obsidian standing just inside.
“You should probably get Kaj,” he told her when she peeked her head in to see Apollo tending to Oliver.
The human was sitting in a recliner, his body convulsing.
“Acadia. Now.”
She nodded, then took off running. Knowing she couldn’t materialize into the Lair because of the titanium that secured both residences, she settled for making her way on foot.
